Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-20
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
RANDALL AND THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON RULES.
The French spoliation Clsims-A Favora-
bic Outlook for the claimants-
General Notes.
Prom our Regular Correspondent

W ASHlNGlpN, ~ u, IectmDeT 10. -
As was expected, the Speaker announced
the Committee on Rules to-day, and Mr..
Randall was found among the Democrats
named. II is thought they may be ready
10 report tomorrow, and the balance OF
the time before the recess will be con.
sumed in the discussion OF their report,
so tina. the subject OF the rules may be
settled before the House adjourns for
the holidays.
The passage OF Mr.. Dibble's resolu-
ton referring the French spoliation
claims that have been favorably reported
to Congress by the Court of Claims To
the Committee on Appropriations, when
appointed, with instructions to report
them in the general deficiency bill for the
consideration of the House, is looked
upon as a substantial victory for the
claimants.
The claims so referred cover thirty
vessels and amount to Si4S, 900, but the
total amount of all the claims is variously
estimated at from s., 600, 900 to $50, 900,
600. Mr.. Dibble to-day stated that upon
the basis of those already decided by the
court the whole amount would ,.robably
be about $4,000, 900. The advantage
secured by the resolution is that 1t in
sures their consideration by the House,
for it must pass the general def
cheney bill, and, secondly, in case OF
the retention of these claims in the
bill by Congress, the risk of a veto is
greatly diminished, as the President can
not veto them without vetOing the whole
deficiency bill. These claims have been
pressed for more than eighty years. They
have been reported upon iayorably forty
times in the two houses. They have
passed both houses twice and been We
toed by two Presidents. A large num-
Der of Nirginians are interested in them,
among them citizens of Richmond, Nor
folk, Petersburg, and other Virginia
cities.
DISTRICT POSTMASTER.
The citizens of this District just now
are very anxious to know who is to be
their new postmaster. The term of the
present incumbent, Frank Conger, son
of ex-senator Conger, of Michigan, ex-
pres tomorrow, and the Democratic APP
plicants for the position, which is worth
81, 900 a year besides a great deal of
patronage, are numerous. Among those
named is one whom all Virginians here
would like to see appointed-Captain
Thomas j. Luttrell, an .ex-Confederate
soldier, and a Democratwho, as chairman
of the Democratic District Committee. did
magnificent service here in 1884, raising
a campaign fund of so, 600 for the Dem
ocratic National Committee. He is Il
prominent merchant here, and his APP
pointment would give general satisfac-
ton.
The report that Mr.. Higgins was
compelled to resign his position as ap-
pointment clerk of the Treasury Depart
ment, at the request of Mr.. Cleveland,
is absolutely denied. Secretary Fair
child in accepting bis resignation says /:
d" 1T is but just to add that You have per-
formed your duties well and faithfully
since you have been connected with this
department "
John NJ. Hull, of Virginia, and James
NJ. Moore, of Maryland, have been
nominated by the President to be third
lieutenants IN the marine service.
The jury in the case Of Thomas John
son and wife rs. the Baltimore and Po-
tomac Railroad Company, in the Gene
raj Court to-day. gave a verdict of 81 800
against the defendants. Mrs. Johnson
was injured 10y being run into by loco
motive while she was driving wagon.